South Africa 2011 - Two sleeps

[emmelinemay]

Four years ago I visited shackers in her new home for the first time. She's now been out there for 6 years and I've finally just about got the money together to go see her again. EXCITE!

As before, I will be detailing my adventures here on LJ. Photos will be going on Facebook though, because it's way easier to upload photos there and LJ has a habit of losing photos. I plan to keep the photos public, so even if you're not a facebook friend you should be able to see them.

Mum has already made a few plans, they involve wine, birds, birthday parties and MONKEYS! Those of you familiar with my previous trip know that I was very disappointed to see hardly any monkeys and didn't get any good photos at all. So I am especially excited about the MONKEYS! I hope to take a trip back to the Fairy Sanctuary as well. In real life of course, rather than just in the dream plains. If you want me to bring you back a fairy, or something fairy related, speak now!

If you want a postcard, please comment here and send me your address! Emmelinemay[at]gmailDOTcom.

I fly out at 2pm from Gatwick, which is not an airport I am familiar with. I'm not even sure how to get there! I stop over in Dubai at midnight and fly out of Dubai at 4am, so I have 4 hours to kill in Dubai airport at ridiculous oclock, which will be fun. I may take a blanket in my carry on...

I get into Cape Town just before midday on the Saturday, so will have been travelling for nearly 24 hours and will probably not have slept and will be theremore most likely VERY grumpy when shackers and her housekeeper, Beauty, my sister from another mother, meet me at the airport.

Tips for surviving a long journey are most appreciated, and if anyone has any particular photo requests leave a comment. (Although for the record, shewho, I will probably struggle for a photo of a baby monkey on a pig going backwards.)

EXCITE!

Comments

[shewho.livejournal.com]

DAMMNIT!!!

(there is, apparently, now a baby monkey ipod game. AMAZING!)

have a blinking brilliant time! i have no amazing tips for long journeys - try and sleep through as much of it as possible?

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

[grin]

[glamgothruthy.livejournal.com]

very easy to get to gatwick -gatwick express from clapham or victoria!

have all the fun!

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

Or non-Gatwick-Express trains to Brighton from London Bridge or Victoria.

They go through East Croydon, you know ... has been handy for late-night getting home in the past.

[littlemissk.livejournal.com]

Dubai airport is pretty rubbish. Assume you're flying on Emirates? If so, that's probably the best of the terminals - there are showers there which aren't too bad. Nothing in the way of shops, and it's pretty smelly and busy most of the time as there's lots of stopovers. Blanket and pillow is a good idea! The best coffee places are towards the gates - there's a Pauls and a Costa at one end, and I think a Starbucks at the other end (Pauls does the best coffee and pastries). There is free wifi through most of the terminal, though, and some scattered charging points with UK plug sockets

Have fun!

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

This is SO USEFUL! thank you! Yes, it's Emirates.

[kynon.livejournal.com]

I have 2 more sleeps before I head for Singapore - EXCITEMENT!

Enjoy yourself in Seth Ifrica! :)

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

A colleague at work told me they go from london bridge which is probably easiest for me by public transport, and are half the price of the gatwick express from victoria, I haven't found any going from Kings x though!

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

ah, she did mention farringdon! I reckon london bridge will be easiest because i am 3 mins from stratford station on the overground and so can get the jubilee line all the way there!

glad that there are plenty of options in case of train problems though! i always leave extra early just in case!!

[jonnytuna.livejournal.com]

have a great trip and send pictures of juvenile simians x